Our Awards

We pride ourselves on our award-winning services and achieving recognised quality standards so we can be the best possible employer.

Our commitment to being a great employer

We recognise that our staff, with their commitment, skill and abilities, are an invaluable resource of the organisation, and that staff development is central to the ability of the organisation to meet its aims and objectives effectively.
 

Investors in People – the standard for people management and a sign of an outperforming place to work

Real Living Wage Employer – this signals our commitment to voluntarily pay the Real Living Wage, which is based on actual living costs in the UK
 

Better Health at Work Gold Award – recognising our efforts to promote better health at work including physical activity, healthy eating and improved wellbeing
 

Investors in the Environment Bronze Award – this signals our commitment to improving our organisation's environmental performance in a sustainable manner
 

North of Tyne Combined Authority 'Good Work Pledge' - recognising our efforts in Valuing and Rewarding our Workforce; Promoting Health and Wellbeing; Effective Communications and Representation; Developing a Balanced Workforce – putting diversity and inclusion front and centre; and Social Responsibility. 

Recent awards for our work

	NAVCA Award for Leadership 2019 – NAVCA is the national body for infrastructure organisations like ours. In our entry for the Leadership Award, our Chief Executive at the time, Sally Young, spoke of the challenges in expanding our support into Gateshead whilst building trust and relationships with local charities, public sector staff and politicians.
	NAVCA Award for Embracing Digital 2019 – we received the Embracing Digital Award in recognition of our work in developing and managing OurGateshead community website and our DIY Advocate app that helps people to self-advocate and make decisions.
	Outstanding Advocacy Service 2018 – our Advocacy service won the overall Outstanding Advocacy Service at the National Advocacy Awards , which aims to showcase the very best in service delivery with creative and innovative ways that services are evolving their support.
	Outstanding Advocacy Service 2022 – our Advocacy service won the overall Outstanding Advocacy Service again at the National Advocacy Awards 2022. We were nominated by Gateshead Council for our safeguarding work to protect people from harm and abuse and Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner for our Hate Crime Advocacy service.

Outstanding Contribution to Equality and Diversity 2023 – our Advocacy service won the award for Outstanding Contribution to Equality and Diversity at the National Advocacy Awards 2023. This builds on the success of our 2018 and 2022 awards and we want to thank everyone who has contributed to us receiving this respected recognition

Quality Standards

Advocacy Quality Performance Mark (QPM) 2022 – Connected Voice Advocacy has been awarded successive QPMs since 2005. The Advocacy QPM is only awarded to organisations who can demonstrate that they provide excellent services in line with the QPM standards and the Advocacy Charter.